On May 28, motorsport fans gathered like every year (along the track for some, in front of their TV for the most part) to follow the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. A mythical event, disputed for the 80th time, which saw the racing cars racing through the streets of the small principality at breakneck speed, crossing a tunnel and taking tight turns. In addition to the victory (unsurprisingly) of Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull), the event allowed TAG Heuer to unveil its new Monaco watches which, for the first time in the model’s history, hide nothing of their cogs.
In 1969, the watchmaker developed an unprecedented self-winding chronograph called Monaco. Jack Heuer wanted to call it Monte-Carlo but the name was already assigned to another model. Unveiled simultaneously in Geneva and New York on March 3, 1969, the watch is considered to be the first to have a square waterproof case, embellished with a blue dial and a winding crown positioned at 9 o’clock. Now iconic, the Monaco nevertheless suffered many criticisms from the watchmaking intelligentsia of the time in its early days: “too square”, “too avant-garde”, “too radical”, it was said. But his fate will change at the very beginning of the 1970s. More precisely in 1971, when the Monaco is popularized on the screen in the film Le Mans, in which Steve McQueen is inspired by the Swiss driver Jo Siffert to soak up his role.
More than fifty years after its launch and multiple iterations, each more innovative than the next, TAG Heuer has therefore offered a makeover to its emblematic model on the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix. This brand new face is embodied in three new skeleton versions. Technically, this is not the first time that the brand has produced an openworked Monaco if we remember that in 2021, during the Only Watch charity auction, it lifted the veil on the first open dial adorning the model. .
In any event, the latest Monaco Chronographs are now presented in a 39 mm case fashioned in titanium, a material renowned for its extreme lightness and which also adorns the bezel. There are three different versions. On the one hand, a blue sandblasted dial – in homage to the original color palette of the TAG Heuer Monaco – enhanced with a unique mix of red and white details. On the other hand, a more “racing” style with a sandblasted black dial on which stand out red and white details adding a rebellious allure to this timepiece inspired by motor racing. Finally, the third opus plays the card of a daring look through its sandblasted black dial completed with luminous turquoise touches as well as bright red lacquered hands. Under the hood, they all come alive with the Heuer 02 Automatic caliber visible through the case back. We will not fail to admire the column wheel and the oscillating weight. Displaying the hour, minute, second and date indications and performing the chronograph function (with 30-minute and 12-hour counters), the movement has an 80-hour power reserve. Last but not least, the 100 meter waterproof watches come with a bi-material rubber and leather strap, ensuring comfort and style.
